In February 2025, people on a beach in Baja California Sur, Mexico, were surprised to see a rare deep-sea fish, the oarfish, washed up at Playa El Quemado.

This long, ribbon-like fish usually lives deep in the ocean, between 660 and 3,280 feet below the surface. It is very rare to see one near the shore. This oarfish, shining and injured, caught a lot of attention.

In some cultures, especially in Japan, people call the oarfish the "doomsday fish." Many believe that when an oarfish appears, a natural disaster like an earthquake or tsunami might follow.

This idea became popular after several oarfish were seen before Japan's huge 2011 earthquake. In August 2024, snorkelers in California saw an oarfish just days before a 4.4-magnitude earthquake hit Los Angeles. These events have made people believe that oarfish are a warning sign of disasters.

However, scientists do not agree with this belief. Studies show that oarfish live deep underwater and cannot sense earthquakes. Experts say they usually come near shore when they are sick, lost, or affected by changes in ocean conditions, like those caused by El Niño and La Niña. Marine biologists say that although oarfish sightings are exciting, they do not mean a disaster is coming.

The recent oarfish sighting in Mexico reminds us of the ocean’s mysteries and the old stories connected to it. While myths make these events more interesting, it is important to understand the scientific reasons behind them.